“Really?” He said, not even trying to hide his curiosity.

“Yes, frankly…” She looked hesitant to continue.

“It's okay,” Miguel answered. “That's her business, you don't need to tell me anything.”

“No… it's… I'm glad of all the places she could have retired to, here was her choice.” The blonde woman answered. “I fear I might have fainted if you were one of those men. They're very dangerous men, and each time she chooses to keep their company…” The woman began tearing up. “Each time…” She tried to contain herself as she spoke and managed to get her final words out. “I fear I may not even see her again!!” She cried before moving into Miguel and embracing him.

(“What the? What kind of guys is she involved with!?”) He wondered as he slowly became overwhelmed by the woman's aura and did his best to give her a comforting hug.

“Thank you, thank you for making sure she stayed out of harm.” The woman said, her voice cracking.

“Um, uh, I uh,” He wasn't sure what to say to a woman as distressed as herself and tried his best to force some words, to little success.

She backed off his chest and slowly looked up to his face. “Forgive me.” The woman said before clearing her throat. “I-I apologise for intruding but, are you her lover?”

“Wha- No!” He quickly responded.

“Oh dear, is she intruding upon you? Have you perhaps lost the feelings you once possessed for her?”

“Woah, hold on, it isn't anything like that, we're just friends!” He answered with his hands placed on her shoulder.

“Oh, dear me forgive me,” Lucy responded. Her cheeks quickly became flushed as she realised her folly. “I'm sorry, it's just… she praised you heavily and I feel I have misinterpreted.” She said as she looked down in shame.

“No, it's okay, a woman crashing at a man's place would have all sorts of people believing the obvious.” He answered, trying to relieve her worries.

“I-I hope you two stay friends.” She said, “I feel I'm overstepping my boundaries by saying this but, she needs to have interactions with the opposite sex that don't involve love.”

Miguel slumped his head after hearing that.

“That so…” The pain on his face was visible.

“Unless, it is a healthy relationship, which I feel you may be able to provide!” She quickly added. “Honestly, maybe having you as an object of admiration will result in her leaving these shady men.”

“It's fine Lucy, it'd be weird anyhow considering she says I'm like a brother to her and she did date my brother… Uh, Lucy could keep this between us?” He begged.

“I would never dream of exposing a man's admiration, Miguel, especially one so dear to a friend of mine.” She answered. “But, after hearing her speak so highly of you, I…” Her voice tapered until she was silent and Miguel wondered what it could have been.

“Are you disappointed?” He asked.

“Heavens no!” Lucy exclaimed. “I wouldn't dare to look down on a man as fine as yourself.” She added before turning her face away.

“Fine?” Miguel asked.

“*Sigh* Yes, fine. Hearing my other half talk about you made me wonder what sort of man you may be and I built a rather unrealistic expectation of you… But, if I speak with t-t-t-t” She began stuttering over her words and even her face turned away, he could see the faintest blush forming. “TOtal honesty! From the way you look to the way you act, it's just how I envisioned you.” She said before slowly looking back at him. “You're a wonderful man. And frankly hearing Louise talk about so fondly left me somewhat jealous. How nice it would be to have a man so lovely by my side.” She softly added as she looked into his eyes. He could tell she felt embarrassed saying this but he felt an inexplicable feeling take over his chest as he looked at her.

“W-what I'm meaning to say is, I think I've built an unhealthy idea of you. I'm sorry if this comes off as odd!”

“No, it's okay. I, uh, honestly I don't think I've been complimented like this before.”

“But Louise is your friend, is she not? Has she not had kind words for you?”

“Not to this extent besides that not how our friendship is, it'd feel weird to complement each other all the time you know?” He answered as he got increasingly red-faced.

“Did my comments make you uncomfortable, perhaps?”

“No, I…”

Lucy moved her face closer to his.

“Then… did you like them?” She asked as she went into his personal space.

“Yes.” He responded trying not to sound choked up. He knew this was fishy but he had no defences against a woman. He was nervous but somewhat excited as well.

“Then, can I be your lover?” She boldly stated.

He nearly choked on his spit and tried his best to remain calm. He didn't give her an answer and she brought her lips closer to his. He didn't know what to do with himself. Each moment her lips came closer, his brain went through a cycle of berating himself and wondering what God he pleased for such a woman to love him.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Before her lips reached his lips he felt a hand on his shoulder before being pulled up and over the couch he sat on. He felt himself get dragged back to the wall at the end of the living room and was struggling to see what had caught him. He looked up to see Louise holding him by the shirt. She looked quite suspicious as well. Her face was covered in sweat and she was breathing heavily as she looked towards Lucy sitting down on the couch.

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE!?” She shouted with Miguel being held in her hand like a bag of groceries.

“Ah, Louise, I've found you. I didn't know where you went after you moved out, it's a miracle I found you at this lovely man's apartment.”

As the blonde woman spoke, her face quickly turned from shock to anger.

“You godforsaken-”

“Watch your language, Louise, I know you have certain thoughts about me but can we not have him included in this? Set him aside and we'll talk this out like adults.”

Louise looked like a trapped animal as she looked down at Miguel. He didn't know what was going on but this was the first time he could ever recall seeing Louise this worked. What could strike fear into the heart of a woman who laughed off sexaul assault and bloodied those who annoyed her?

Miguel would never find out as he felt an almost unnatural drowsiness take over his body before he went limp. Louise gently set him down, leaning against the wall and walked over to the blonde woman.

----------------------------------------

“What do you mean that's it!?” Tibaut shouted.

“Like I said, you went unconscious and your memory of events ended here.”

In a bid to change the scenery somewhat, Satan had moulded Tibaut’s mind to his needs and created a replica of his old apartment. Outside his windows was nothing but darkness as far as the eye could see but otherwise, it was an exact replica of the place he called home for over five years.

Sitting on his couch was himself, Satan and Lucifer, who seemed to be quite cheery as she leaned against him.

“Damn- wait a second.” He turned to Lucy and she perked up. “What were you talking about?” He asked her.

She placed a finger on her lips and thought about it for a moment. “It's a secret♡”

“Please, give me a hint or something, like, she knew who you were right?”

“Of course, she wouldn't forget her friend Lucifer.”

“Yeah right, you two were friends.” He answered, unconvinced.

“It's true!” The woman answered, pouting at him. “But… Louise could be a bit cold to me sometimes. I always tried to be nothing but a good friend to her and she'd take my actions the wrong way.” She said as she caressed Tibaut.

He felt uncomfortable and looked to Satan for guidance. “You worried about this being some sort of intimacy, correct?”

“Bastard, I know you can read my mind just give me the answer!”

“Hmm, this is no more intimacy than, say, looking at a photo of a beautiful woman. This thing isn't real, it's just an annoying by-product of viewing your memories.”

“So…”

“So you can enjoy her in the same vain you do as those dreams of yours. In fact, she likely possesses no answers to your questions. She is just being coy for the sake of it.”

“How hurtful Satan. How can I not be real if I am capable of this?” She said as she scooched on the couch onto Tibaut’s lap before dragging Satan towards her and putting him in her lap to pinch away at his cheeks.

“Why must you try to annoy me so, woman…” He said as his face was stretched out.

“What else are siblings good at, brother?” She answered.

After hearing Satan's words, Tibaut just sat back and enjoyed the experience he could only get in his mind.

“Man, if only I could go into this place at will. Then I wouldn't have to worry about you watching these sorts of things.” He said as the woman began shuffling as she played with Satan, on his lap.

“Are you not ashamed right now?” Satan asked.

“If she isn't real, then it's only us in here and frankly I could care less about what you think of me. I deserve some reward for putting up with your bullshit.”

“Indeed, we should make up for the lost time. I wasn't lying about what I said in that memory, Tibaut.” Lucy added.

His cheeks once again gained a pink hue.

“M-maybe later. (She's not even real and I'm basically powerless against her… sigh this is a new low.)”

He cleared his throat and tried his best to deepen his tone.

“Alright, enough fucking around. I got some questions for both of you.”

“Please, feel free to relay them to us,” Lucy answered.

“What is it, Experiment?”

While he enjoyed the weight of the soft behind on his lap, he couldn't take them seriously like this. He lifted her off of him and placed her beside him.

They looked like a doting mother and her child, which definitely felt out of place considering their names.

“Alright just to confirm, you're Lucifer, correct?”

“That she is.”

“Please feel free to call me Lucy, Tibaut, you're as much of a friend to me as Louise.”

“Okay, so why are you friends with Louise?” He asked.

“Hmm? I suppose it just happened one day.”

“Happened!? How does becoming friends with the Devil happen?”

Satan turned to watch her reaction and she kept her smile.

“Tibaut, are you saying you wouldn't become my friend in that world?” She asked.

“...”

“I knew it.” She said in a tone that lost the bubbliness of earlier. “I suppose it is true the only thing I have are my looks.” The woman said as she turned her head down.

Satan rolled his eyes.

“No, no, of course I'd be your friend, it's just with your name, you know?”

“Ah, how lovely. Would you consider being my lover as well?”

“Can we move past this nonsense?” Satan asked.

“I mean…” Tibaut hesitated for a moment. “Maybe if I met you before Louise but-”

Both beings clicked their tongue at this answer, though for different reasons. “You think you can reject an archangel human? I ought to show your body the pain of being perpetually struck by lightning.” Satan answered.

“I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask.” She answered, sounding depressed.